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Investments

Average Annual Investment in Kyrgyzstan Grows by 140%

Average annual investment in Kyrgyzstan has increased by 140% in recent years, Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliyev announced at an investment forum held in Bishkek. The event brought together representatives from various sectors of the Kyrgyz economy, including construction, tourism, the agro-industrial complex, the jewelry industry, and associations of suppliers and distributors. Heads of development funds offering preferential financing to domestic businesses also participated. Kasymaliyev acknowledged that the state's previous involvement in attracting investment to the private sector had been fragmented. However, this is changing under Kyrgyzstan’s new investment strategy, a comprehensive, state-level framework designed to draw both domestic and foreign capital. As a result of recent reforms, the prime minister stated that Kyrgyzstan’s gross domestic product has nearly tripled over the past five years. GDP growth for the first 11 months of 2025 stood at 10.2%. "We expect promising initiatives from you. Only through joint efforts can we lay a solid foundation for a dynamic and competitive economy," Kasymaliyev said, addressing the business community. He also emphasized the importance of continuous dialogue between government agencies and the private sector to maintain a stable investment flow. “For any state, investment is the main source of economic growth, stability, and development. In the current environment, time is the investor's main asset, and the country's internal stability is the key to the success of both state and business,” he said. Kasymaliyev identified several priority sectors for attracting investment, including hydropower, logistics, agriculture, mining, IT, the halal industry, tourism, and pharmaceuticals. Rustam Baltabaev, Executive Director of the Association for the Development of the Agro-Industrial Complex, told The Times of Central Asia that while relevant legislation is necessary, it alone is not sufficient to foster a favorable investment climate. The decisive factor, he argued, is sustained, constructive dialogue between the government and the business sector. “The investment climate is defined not by declarations, but by the practical conditions under which businesses operate,” Baltabaev said. “It includes the speed and cost of launching a project, the time required to obtain permits, predictable regulations, protection of property rights, infrastructure, access to financing, human capital, and fair competition. Business associations play a key role by channeling investor concerns into actionable regulatory solutions.” Participants at the forum noted that entrepreneurs have previously criticized the government for inadequate support. However, many expressed cautious optimism that new approaches and improved cooperation between the public and private sectors could signal a shift. Both government officials and business leaders agreed that mutual respect and policy consistency are critical to attracting new foreign investors to Kyrgyzstan.

Natural Resources

Mirziyoyev: Uzbekistan’s Natural Resources Valued at Up to $79,000 Per Person

Uzbekistan’s vast underground wealth has drawn renewed attention following the release of an international ranking of countries by natural resource value per capita, as reported by Uzbek publication Zamin. According to the ranking, Saudi Arabia tops the list, with natural resources valued at approximately $1 million per person, driven largely by its extensive oil reserves. Canada and Australia follow, each exceeding $700,000 per capita, supported by a combination of oil, forests, minerals, iron ore, coal, and natural gas. Russia ranks fourth, with more than $520,000 in resources per person. Although accurately assessing Uzbekistan’s total natural resource value remains difficult due to fluctuating global commodity prices and ongoing geological exploration, the country's long-term potential is considered substantial. In July 2018, Azam Qadirhodjayev, then Deputy Chairman of Uzbekistan’s State Committee for Geology and Mineral Resources, estimated the total potential value of the country’s mineral resources at approximately $5.7 trillion. Of this, over $1 trillion stemmed from explored and currently developed deposits. At the time, only about 20% of Uzbekistan’s territory had been fully studied, leaving considerable room for new discoveries. Additional details were provided in December 2023, when Ilyos Jumayev, a representative of the Ministry of Mining Industry and Geology, announced at a press conference that Uzbekistan officially possesses 101 gold deposits and three silver deposits. According to the ministry, the country holds nearly all mineral types found globally, including gold, silver, copper, uranium, oil, natural gas, lithium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, nickel, cobalt, tantalum, and niobium. Major gold reserves serve as the raw material base for the Navoi and Almalyk mining and metallurgical complexes, while copper deposits are primarily located in the Tashkent region. The value of Uzbekistan’s natural resources was also a key topic at the Tashkent International Investment Forum in June 2025. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated that the country’s underground wealth is valued at approximately $3 trillion. He emphasized that the global demand for technological minerals is rising amid the fourth industrial revolution and identified strategic reserves of lithium, tungsten, magnesium, graphite, titanium, and vanadium as vital for developing high value-added industries. Based on the president’s $3 trillion estimate and Uzbekistan’s current population of roughly 38.24 million, the per capita value of natural resources stands at approximately $78,000 to $79,000. While lower than the per capita resource wealth in countries like Saudi Arabia or Canada, officials argue that incomplete geological surveying leaves room for this figure to grow. Uzbekistan’s resource base includes not only precious and rare earth metals but also energy resources such as oil and natural gas, underscoring the country’s strategic position in the global minerals landscape.

Cotton

Turkmenistan Considers Cotton Exports to Kyrgyzstan

Turkmenistan is exploring the possibility of exporting cotton to Kyrgyzstan as part of a broader effort to jointly develop the textile industry, according to Danil Ibrayev, a member of the presidium of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Business Council and President of the Kyrgyz Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. He shared the update during an interview with Birinchi Radio. Ibrayev noted that both countries are currently discussing practical mechanisms for supplying Turkmen cotton to Kyrgyz enterprises, where it would be processed into finished textile products. These products could then be sold domestically or exported, including to other EAEU member states. “Turkmenistan produces large volumes of cotton. We are now discussing how to organize its delivery to Kyrgyzstan and develop textile production here,” Ibrayev said. The initiative aligns with Kyrgyzstan’s strategy to revitalize its light industry by securing stable sources of raw materials. Turkmenistan, meanwhile, is seeking to diversify export routes for its agricultural commodities, with cotton remaining a vital component of its economy. Experts cited by local media suggest that such cooperation could deepen industrial integration within Central Asia and reduce dependence on textile imports from outside the region. With growing demand for locally produced goods and the expansion of import substitution policies, regional partnerships are gaining strategic significance. Last year, Kyrgyz officials emphasized the government's commitment to expanding domestic textile production and actively sourcing raw materials from neighboring states. Cotton processing was identified as one of the quickest pathways to job creation and increased exports through value-added manufacturing.

Society

Tajikistan Remains in 113th Place in Global Social Progress Index

The newly released Global Social Progress Index offers a mixed assessment of Tajikistan, where improvements in water and sanitation have been overshadowed by a sharp decline in civil liberties, limiting the country's overall advancement in global rankings. Tajikistan ranks 113th out of 170 countries in the AlTi 2025 Global Social Progress Index, with a score of 58.15 points, according to the latest report from the international research initiative AlTi Global Social Progress Index. The index evaluates non-economic aspects of quality of life, including healthcare, education, rights, and freedoms. Covering data from 2011 to 2024, the report shows Tajikistan has improved its overall score by 5.98 points over the period. However, the country was classified as having “stagnant indicators” in 2024, reflecting a lack of measurable progress in the past year. One of the most significant achievements noted in the report is Tajikistan’s improvement in access to water and sanitation. Since 2011, this component has risen by 38.83 points, placing the country among the global leaders in this area. The report notes that investments in water and sanitation infrastructure have long-term impacts on public health, education, and social well-being, contributing meaningfully to the country’s overall index score. Conversely, the most concerning decline has been in the Rights & Voice category, which includes measures of political rights, freedom of speech, media independence, academic freedom, and equality before the law. Tajikistan's score in this area has dropped by 15.94 points since 2011, placing it among the ten countries with the worst downward trends in civil liberties worldwide. According to the report, this deterioration in rights and freedoms is the primary barrier to further social progress in Tajikistan. Within the Central Asia region, which has generally seen upward trends since 2011, Tajikistan ranks lowest. Kazakhstan currently ranks 58th, Uzbekistan 76th, and Kyrgyzstan 81st. The report concludes that sustainable social progress in the region is impossible without significant improvements in civil rights and freedoms. While infrastructure development and educational gains are important, they cannot offset systemic issues related to political and civil liberties.

Caspian Pipeline Consortium

Kazakhstan Fast-Tracks Delivery of Caspian Pipeline Equipment

Kazakhstan has expedited the delivery of two new offshore berthing facilities for the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), a move prompted by recent drone attacks on CPC infrastructure. The initiative aims to restore the stability of oil exports and ensure uninterrupted operations at the key marine terminal in Novorossiysk. The two new remote mooring devices (RMDs) were procured from a manufacturer in the United Arab Emirates for installation at the CPC Marine Terminal. Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov announced on December 15 in Astana that the delivery timeline has been moved up from April 2026 to January 2025. “The Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the national oil and gas company KazMunayGas are making every effort to deliver the two new RMD units. We are now pushing ahead with this and plan to deliver them in January,” said Akkenzhenov, highlighting the logistical complexity of transporting the technologically advanced equipment to Novorossiysk. According to the CPC press service, the two devices being replaced, CPC-1 and CPC-2, were originally commissioned in 2001. The contract for their replacement was signed in January 2024, and both new units are expected to be completed by December 2025. These upgrades are part of a recovery program following a series of attacks on CPC infrastructure. At the same time, repair work continues on VPU-3, another remote berthing facility. However, efforts have been hindered by severe weather conditions in Novorossiysk, where strong winds and currents have disrupted underwater installation work. “The weather in Novorossiysk is difficult, with very strong winds causing high waves and currents. Divers are descending under the dome to install underwater hoses,” Akkenzhenov explained. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium remains one of the largest energy projects in the post-Soviet space. The 1,511 kilometer Tengiz-Novorossiysk pipeline transports more than two-thirds of Kazakhstan’s oil exports, along with output from Russian fields, including those in the Caspian Sea. The CPC’s marine terminal in Novorossiysk is equipped with three remote mooring devices, enabling tankers to load safely offshore and ensuring continuous export operations. Since autumn 2025, CPC facilities have been repeatedly targeted. The first attack occurred on September 24, when drones struck the consortium’s office, injuring employees and bystanders. Other key incidents included attacks on the Kropotkinskaya base (February 17 and March 24), the Kavkazskaya facility (March 19), and the Novorossiysk marine terminal (September 24-25). The most serious incident occurred on November 29, when the terminal’s pier was damaged, rendering VPU-2 inoperable. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy estimated losses of 480,000 tons of oil and condemned the attack as “unacceptable and dangerous for global energy security.” The emergency acquisition and fast-tracked delivery of the new berthing units are seen as a strategic investment by Kazakhstan, not only to secure its export capacity but also to reinforce the stability of one of the region’s most critical energy corridors.

Automobile Industry

Kazakhstan Sets New Record for Car Sales

Kazakhstan's car market set a new record in the first 11 months of 2025, with more than 207,500 new vehicles sold, surpassing the previous annual record of 205,000 units set in 2024. According to the Kazakhstan Automobile Union (KAS), 25,804 passenger and commercial vehicles were sold in November 2025 alone, marking a 22.7% year-on-year increase. This figure represents the highest monthly sales volume in the history of official car retail in the country. Between January and November 2025, dealerships sold a total of 207,616 new vehicles, 15.6% more than during the same period in 2024. KAS President Anar Makasheva noted that the market has already exceeded last year's total sales despite the traditionally active pre-New Year period still ahead. She added that dealers are expanding financial offerings and launching special promotions, as December is typically the most favorable month for car purchases. A further increase is expected by year-end. Hyundai was the top-selling brand in Kazakhstan during the reporting period, with 45,220 units sold. Chevrolet followed with 33,486, and Kia ranked third with 21,481. Chinese manufacturers dominated the rest of the top ten: Jetour (13,000), Chery (12,500), Haval (10,400), and Changan (10,100). Toyota came in eighth with 10,000 vehicles sold, followed by Geely (9,000) and Jac (8,700). Among the most popular models in November were the Chevrolet Cobalt (7,100), Hyundai Tucson (1,900), and Kia Sportage (1,300). As of December 1, 2025, Kazakhstan had 5,843,358 registered vehicles, according to government statistics. The majority, 4,898,203, were category B passenger cars. In comparison, 6,786,876 vehicles were registered as of September 1. The Ministry of Internal Affairs attributed the discrepancy of nearly 1 million vehicles to a database update that eliminated duplicates, corrected technical errors, and verified first-time registrations. Earlier this year, The Times of Central Asia reported that Kazakhstani car manufacturers saw a nearly 17% profit increase in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.